• Over four decades, American taxpayers have dished out $1 trillion on the “War on Drugs.”

• Nearly half of all prisoners in state prisons are locked up for non-violent crimes. The

majority is Black prisoners who are incarcerated for drug crimes.

• Black kids are 10 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes than White ones – even

though White kids are more likely to abuse drugs.

• One in every 15 Black males, 18 & older, is incarcerated in the US vs. 1 in 106 White males.

(From “The Drug War And Mass Incarceration By The Numbers”)

The 18-minute “Jimmy’s Back” documentary (directed by Cosmik Vertigo Films) spotlights the issue of mass incarceration in America and includes commentary from a few of the featured artists on the album, many of whom are ex-felons. As Dice Raw puts it, they represent the “truth” behind the album’s message. In the documentary, rappers such as Philadelphia’s rising star and ex-offender K-Dot talk about living in “cells the size of bathrooms” where they were left to their own insanity, only to be returned to another sort of insanity once released back into the streets.

“I grew up in Philadelphia – Philadelphia is not a soft city, you know what I mean? It has a criminal element to it, and poor sections. That’s basically what it comes down to is low economic background, low education… the War on Drugs is a War on Thugs,” says Dice Raw on the tragic state of affairs for Black men in his home city of Philadelphia alone.

“Black people have been fighting for the freedoms and privileges enjoyed by people of ALL colors since Crispus Attucks, without fair or equal representation. Law and order are now code words for ‘get them niggas.’ Churches, temples, synagogues, the media, police, gun shops, law firms and more will win off of recent things like the Trayvon Martin decision. Don’t believe me – just watch! We released ‘Jimmy’s Back’ as an informative call-to-action to our brothers, sisters and allies in the struggle.”

The footage in the documentary was shot in Philadelphia.

How Hip-Hop Can Help

If you are young, Black, and male in America, chances are, you will go to prison during your lifetime. If you ever return to society, you’ll likely re-enter with little to no support for meeting your basic needs. The stories are alarming, and sadly, Hip-Hop is all in the details.

AllHipHop.com, Okayplayer.com and RapGenius.com want to create a massive wave of online support & awareness about the issue of Mass Incarceration that doesn’t end today.

Here are 5 Ways to support the cause:

Stay out of prison! – Crime never pays, and the street life will eventually catch up with you.

Be informed! – There are root causes behind the unfathomable numbers of Black men & women in prison – things like lack of jobs, poor education, inadequate homes, and ills within the justice system are leading factors for why people commit crimes.

Get involved! – Hundreds of organizations and movements are popping up across the country and working on the issue of Mass Incarceration every day. Join groups like the @ACLU or @WomenOfWAMI to stay in the mix of the solution.

Support the “Jimmy’s Back” album & documentary! – Give them some props, artists and musicians have always been champions for the underdog. Pre-order Dice Raw’s “Jimmy’s Back” on August 4 and look for the release on August 19

Love yourself! – Creating change is never easy, but it starts within you. Opt for legal hustles, seek self-improvement, and work within the system. Your forefathers already paved the way!